bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第13节
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high opinion of Mrs Jellyby。”
Mr Kenge； adjusting his cravat； then looked at us。
“And Mr Jellyby； sir？” suggested Richard。
“Ah！ Mr Jellyby；” said Mr Kenge； “is—a—I don’t know that I
can describe him to you better than by saying that he is the
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husband of Mrs Jellyby。”
“A nonentity； sir？” said Richard； with a droll look。
“I don’t say that；” returned Mr Kenge； gravely。 “I can’t say；
that； indeed； for I know nothing whatever of Mr Jellyby。 I never； to
my knowledge； had the pleasure of seeing Mr Jellyby。 He may be a
very superior man； but he is； so to speak merged—Merged—in the
more shining qualities of his wife。” Mr Kenge proceeded to tell us
that as the road to Bleak House would have been very long； dark；
and tedious； on such an evening； and as we had been travelling
already。 Mr Jarndyce had himself proposed this arrangement。 A
carriage would be at Mrs Jellyby’s to convey us out of town； early
in the forenoon of tomorrow。
He then rang a little bell； and the young gentleman came in。
Addressing him by the name of Guppy； Mr Kenge inquired
whether Miss Summerson’s boxes and the rest of the baggage had
been “sent round。” Mr Guppy said yes； they had been sent round；
and a coach was waiting to take us round too； as soon as we
pleased。
“Then it only remains；” said Mr Kenge； shaking hands with us；
“for me to express my lively satisfaction in （good day； Miss Clare！）
the arrangement this day concluded； and my （good bye to you；
Miss Summerson！） lively hope that it will conduce to the
happiness； the （glad to have had the honour of making your
acquaintance； Mr Carstone！） welfare； the advantage in all points of
view； of all concerned！ Guppy； see the party safely there。”
“Where is ‘there；’ Mr Guppy？” said Richard； as we went
downstairs。
“No distance；” said Mr Guppy； “round in Thavies Inn； you
know。”
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“I can’t say I know where it is； for I come from Winchester； and
am strange in London。”
“Only round the corner；” said Mr Guppy。 “We just twist up
Chancery Lane； and cut along Holborn； and there we are in four
minutes’ time； as near as a toucher。 This is about a London
particular now； ain’t it； miss？” He seemed quite delighted with it
on my account。
“The fog is very dense； indeed！” said I。
“Not that it affects you； though； I am sure；” said Mr Guppy；
putting up the steps。 “On the contrary； it seems to do you good；
miss； judging from your appearance。”
I knew he meant well in paying me this compliment； so I
laughed at myself for blushing at it； when he had shut the door
and got upon the box； and we all three laughed； and chatted about
our inexperience； and the strangeness of London； until we turned
up under an archway； to our destination： a narrow street of high
houses； like an oblong cistern to hold the fog。 There was a
confused little crowd of people； principally children； gathered
about the house at which we stopped； which had a tarnished brass
plate on the door； with the inscription； JELLYBY。
“Don’t be frightened！” said Mr Guppy； looking in at the coach…
window。 “One of the young Jellybys been and got his head
through the area railings！”
“O poor child；” said I； “let me out； if you please！”
“Pray be careful of yourself； miss。 The young Jellybys are
always up to something；” said Mr Guppy。
I made my way to the poor child； who was one of the dirtiest
little unfortunates I ever saw； and found him very hot and
frightened； and crying loudly； fixed by the neck between two iron
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railings； while a milkman and a beadle； with the kindest intentions
possible； were endeavouring to drag him back by the legs； under a
general impression that his skull was compressible by those
means。 As I found （after pacifying him）； that he was a little boy；
with a naturally large head； I thought that； perhaps； where his
head could go； his body could follow； and mentioned that the best
mode of extrication might be to push him forward。 This was so
favourably received by the milkman and beadle； that he would
immediately have been pushed into the area； if I had not held his
pinafore while Richard and Mr Guppy ran down through the
kitchen； to catch him when he should be released。 At last he was
happily got down without any accident； and then he began to beat
Mr Guppy with a hoop…stick in quite a frantic manner。
Nobody had appeared belonging to the house； except a person
in patterns； who had been poking at the child from below with a
broom； I don’t know with what object； and I don’t think she did。 I
therefore supposed that Mrs Jellyby was not at home； and was
quite surprised when the person appeared in the passage without
the pattens； and going up to the back room on the first floor；
before Ada and me； announced us as “Them two young ladies；
Missis Jellyby！” We passed several more children on the way up；
whom it was difficult to avoid treading on in the dark； and as we
came into Mrs Jellyby’s presence； one of the poor little things fell
downstairs—down a whole flight （as it sounded to me）； with a
great noise。
Mrs Jellyby； whose face reflected none of the uneasiness which
we could not help showing in our own faces； as the dear child’s
head recorded its passage with a bump on every stair—Richard
afterwards said he counted seven； besides one for the landing—
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received us with perfect equanimity。 She was a pretty； very
diminutive； plump woman； of from forty to fifty； with handsome
eyes； though they had a curious habit of seeming to look a long
way off。 As if—I am quoting Richard again—they could see
nothing nearer than Africa。
“I am very glad； indeed；” said Mrs Jellyby； in an agreeable
voice； “to have the pleasure of receiving you。 I have a great respect
for Mr Jarndyce； and no one in whom he is interested can be an
object of indifference to me。”
We expressed our acknowledgments； and sat down behind the
door where there was a lame invalid of a sofa。 Mrs Jellyby had
very good hair； but was too much occupied with her African duties
to brush it。 The shawl in which she had been loosely muffled；
dropped on to her chair when she advanced to us； and as she
turned to resume her seat； we could not help noticing that her
dress didn’t nearly meet up the back； and that the open space was
railed across with a lattice…work of stay…lace—like a summer…
house。
The room； which was strewn with papers and nearly filled by a
great writing…table covered with similar litter； was； I must say； not
only very untidy； but very dirty。 We were obliged to take notice of
that with our sense of sight； even while； with our sense of hearing；
we followed the poor child who had tumbled downstairs： I think
into the back kitchen； where somebody seemed to stifle him。
But what principally struck us was a jaded； and unhealthy…
looking； though by no means plain girl； at the wri
